Bonus: Why This 2026 Venice Biennale Scandal Is Splitting the Art World – with Carrie Scott

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In this bonus episode of the Installation Art podcast, curator and art consultant Carrie Scott joins me to delve into the ongoing controversy surrounding the Venice Biennale Australian Pavilion.

Together we discuss:
• How artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino were appointed to represent Australia at the 2026 Venice Biennale and then abruptly cancelled
• The procedural, political, and social dimensions of the decision made by Creative Australia, its impact on the local and international art scene, and what it means for artistic freedom
• How the Australian arts community is responding to the shock decision
• Carrie shares her personal experiences and insights, offering a poignant perspective on the value of art that challenges and provokes.

We also touch on recent tragic news that affects the Biennale more broadly and raises questions about who has the authority to decide what kind of art is “acceptable” or what art is about.

05:02 The Australian Pavilion Controversy: An Overview
06:51 Selection Process for the Australian Pavilion
10:46 Creative Australia's Decision and Backlash
12:10 Senate Hearing and Further Repercussions
17:36 Personal Reflections on the Controversy
38:40 National Pavilions and Curator's Theme
39:09 Tragic Passing of Koyo Kouoh
42:38 Journalist's Role and Agenda
45:16 Art and Political Sensitivities
48:14 Personal Reflections on 9/11
53:16 Curatorial Challenges and Responses
58:59 Speculations and Broader Implications

Carrie Scott is a curator and art consultant based in London: https://www.carrie-scott.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/carriescottcurates/ 

SEEN is a next-generation art consultancy, shining a light on the opaque world of galleries, auction houses and dealers: https://www.seen.art/ | https://www.instagram.com/watchseenart/ | @watchseenart

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If you want to help the Sabsabi-Dagostino project in Venice, go to this website: https://khaledsabsabi.com/support-the-venice-biennale-2026-exhibition-by-khaled-sabsabi-curated-by-michael-dagostino/
Or purchase a unique artwork by Sabsabi to help raise funds: https://unvanishedsabsabi.myshopify.com/

Khaled Sabsabi speaks: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/the-art-show/khaled-sabsabi-speaks/105050484
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/audio/2025/apr/01/exclusive-khaled-sabsabi-speaks-on-the-damage-of-being-dumped-from-the-venice-biennale-full-story-podcast

Also mentioned in this episode:
Khaled Sabsabi: https://khaledsabsabi.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/peacefender/
Michael Dagostino: https://www.sydney.edu.au/museum/about-us/our-people.html
Creative Australia: https://creative.gov.au/ | https://www.instagram.com/creative.australia/
Venice Biennale: https://www.labiennale.org/en | https://www.instagram.com/labiennale/ | @BiennaleChannel
Adrian Collette: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrian-collette-31a192ba/?originalSubdomain=au
The Australian article “Your Taxpayer Dollars At Work: Arts Council takes Creative Approach to Racism” https://www.theaustralian.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=TAWEB_WRE170_a_GGL&dest=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/margin-call/arts-council-takes-creative-approach-to-racism/news-story/00e630f4d43423d15892ead5cfadaf8d&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=HIGH-Segment-2-SCORE&V21spcbehaviour=appendend
Memo: https://www.memoreview.net/ | https://www.instagram.com/memo_review/
MCA Sydney: https://www.mca.com.au/ | https://www.instagram.com/mca_australia | @mcaaustralia
Liz-Ann McGregor op-ed: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2025/feb/18/australia-venice-biennale-sabsabi-dumped-former-museum-contemporary-art-head-says-ntwnfb
Thank You Very Much, 2006: https://khaledsabsabi.com/work/thank-you-very-much/
Monash University Museum of Art: https://www.monash.edu/muma/home | https://www.instagram.com/mumamonash
Lindy Lee: https://www.lindylee.net/ | https://www.instagram.com/lindylee.13/
Simon Mordant: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Mordant
Koyo Kouoh: https://curatorsintl.org/about/collaborators/5322-koyo-kouoh | https://www.instagram.com/madamekoyo/
Interview with Koyo Kouoh: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-art-world-what-if/id1203133627?i=1000649955901
Hank Willis Thomas: https://hankwillisthomas.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/hankwillisthomas/
Lubaina Himid: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lubaina_Himid | https://www.instagram.com/lubainapics/
Josh Milani: https://milanigallery.com.au/ | https://www.instagram.com/milanigallery

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